Immigration reform needed for U.S. economy and for Haiti quake reliefBy Cheryl Little, Special to CNN
May 7, 2010 5:41 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Cheryl Little says giving protected status to Haitian immigrants was wise
She says such status was not granted in earlier disasters
Little says further immigration changes would aid Haiti's effort to recover from quake
A comprehensive immigration reform bill would be a major step forward, she says

Editor's note: Cheryl Little is the executive director of the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, a Miami-based nonprofit law firm that protects and promotes the rights of immigrants. For a look at the children of Haiti, watch CNN's "Rescued," a documentary presented by Soledad O'Brien at 8 p.m. ET Saturday.

Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Marie, a Haitian mother, couldn't have been more grateful. "Thank you God for TPS," she recently told an attorney helping her fill out forms that will protect her from deportation. She was referring to temporary protected status, which will allow her to work legally, help Haiti and support her two young children. It's the sentiment that we hear most these days.

As longtime advocates, we at Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center were gratified when the Department of Homeland Security granted temporary protected status to unauthorized Haitian immigrants after the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. Temporary protected status will allow perhaps 100,000 Haitians to legalize their status for the next 18 months.

Now that the rains have begun, people describe spending the nights "domi pandeye," (sleeping while balancing upright), standing under their plastic sheeting because there is no room for everyone to be sheltered and lie down, and because water floods the tents. During the rainy season, which has already begun, but will intensify in May, it rains nearly every night. In the morning the sun blazes, the heat under the plastic sheeting-which is all most people have to protect themselves-is stifling. They are now living in "labouye" (the mud) 24 hours a day, in camps almost uniformly lacking in latrines, or other sanitation.

They describe the struggle to feed their families.The price of basic foodstuffs (rice, beans, cornmeal, cooking oil, and charcoal for cooking) have risen 15-30% since the earthquake, while incomes have all but disappeared. Only those receiving funds from family overseas are able to purchase food. For those dependent on international aid, finding food for their families is an unending labor. Coupons for food might be distributed in the camps once a week, though not to everyone and not with predictability. Women who were able to get the coupons must then go to a different site, often miles away, and line up long before the sun rises. If they are lucky, by noon they might receive a 50lb bag of rice, which must then be carried or transported back to where they are living. The next day the same struggle might begin again this time to find cooking oil-one day spent in line waiting for the coupons, another day to travel to where the oil is being distributed, in a completely different location than the rice. Often these ventures yield nothing: there aren't enough coupons to go around, the rice runs out, the distribution center has been relocated, or it does not open due to security concerns. And with the rains bags of rice get wet and spoil.

Immigration reform needed for U.S. economy and for Haiti quake reliefBy Cheryl Little, Special to CNN
May 7, 2010 5:41 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Cheryl Little says giving protected status to Haitian immigrants was wise
She says such status was not granted in earlier disasters
Little says further immigration changes would aid Haiti's effort to recover from quake
A comprehensive immigration reform bill would be a major step forward, she says

Editor's note: Cheryl Little is the executive director of the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, a Miami-based nonprofit law firm that protects and promotes the rights of immigrants. For a look at the children of Haiti, watch CNN's "Rescued," a documentary presented by Soledad O'Brien at 8 p.m. ET Saturday.

Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Marie, a Haitian mother, couldn't have been more grateful. "Thank you God for TPS," she recently told an attorney helping her fill out forms that will protect her from deportation. She was referring to temporary protected status, which will allow her to work legally, help Haiti and support her two young children. It's the sentiment that we hear most these days.

As longtime advocates, we at Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center were gratified when the Department of Homeland Security granted temporary protected status to unauthorized Haitian immigrants after the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. Temporary protected status will allow perhaps 100,000 Haitians to legalize their status for the next 18 months.

somebody needs to inform cheryl that obie wan has a nearly 10% unemployment figure here in the US OF KKKA.. so why do wee need immigrants who come here to work and send their money home?? and while yer at it ask cheryl why haiti is America's problem? didn't anybody tell her racists live here?
s

We have sent and are sending BILLIONS to help them over THERE. And will they go back home after the 18 mos.??? I surely doubt it as this country has AGAIN extended the TPS to those from Honduras and Nicaragua for the upteenth time! The same will be done for those from Haiti.

Immigration reform needed for U.S. economy and for Haiti quake reliefBy Cheryl Little, Special to CNN
May 7, 2010 5:41 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Cheryl Little says giving protected status to Haitian immigrants was wise
She says such status was not granted in earlier disasters
Little says further immigration changes would aid Haiti's effort to recover from quake
A comprehensive immigration reform bill would be a major step forward, she says

Editor's note: Cheryl Little is the executive director of the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, a Miami-based nonprofit law firm that protects and promotes the rights of immigrants. For a look at the children of Haiti, watch CNN's "Rescued," a documentary presented by Soledad O'Brien at 8 p.m. ET Saturday.

Miami, Florida (CNN) -- Marie, a Haitian mother, couldn't have been more grateful. "Thank you God for TPS," she recently told an attorney helping her fill out forms that will protect her from deportation. She was referring to temporary protected status, which will allow her to work legally, help Haiti and support her two young children. It's the sentiment that we hear most these days.

As longtime advocates, we at Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center were gratified when the Department of Homeland Security granted temporary protected status to unauthorized Haitian immigrants after the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. Temporary protected status will allow perhaps 100,000 Haitians to legalize their status for the next 18 months.

somebody needs to inform cheryl that obie wan has a nearly 10% unemployment figure here in the US OF KKKA.. so why do wee need immigrants who come here to work and send their money home?? and while yer at it ask cheryl why haiti is America's problem? didn't anybody tell her racists live here?
s

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Because we cannot mind our own business. We make illegal aliens our problem just like we make Iraq and every other country.

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